An Evaluation of Sahara Reporters as a Platform of Participatory Journalism

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Date

2016

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Novena Journal of Communication

Abstract

This study examines the role of Sahara Reporters as online media. The aim is to make sense of the phenomenon of participatory journalism considered in the context of the historical evolution of public communication. The study, which is anchored on a libertarian theory of mass communication, adopts qualitative content analysis. It selects purposively selects some publications of Sahara Reporters between January and June 2014. The news stories purposively selected cut across social, economic and political themes. Results show a robust coverage of issues and active participation of audience with a bias in certain issues particularly insecurity which is the dominant theme. Also, audiences have a diverse impression on the type and quality of issues Sahara Reporters cover. Therefore, it recommends among other things, self-censorship by reporters including the active audience that participates on the online platform.

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Keywords

Sahara Reporters, participatory journalism, online media, libertarian theory, objectivity

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